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Mangaluru: Residents bat for multi-purpose playground at Bondel

  •   Sat, May 02 2015 04:02:29 PM

Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangaluru, May 2: Thousands of residents along the City-Airport Road, stretching from Yeyyadi to Kavoor, are batting for a multi-purpose playground on the 10-acre plot, set aside for sports, located in the Government Housing Colony at Bondel. They are agitated over the latest proposal to construct a cricket stadium. There are no sports, recreation and park facilities in the vast swathe of land from Kadri Park up to MCC’s north border at Gurpur River. The residents are alarmed at the prospect of a gated exclusive cricket stadium, shutting out all other forms of sports and games.

Local residents formed the Bondel Maidan Development Samithi a few years ago for promoting a fast and proper development of the plot for multi-purpose sports and games. It has now been revived to oppose the proposed exclusive gated cricket stadium and to develop the ground for multi-purpose sports and recreational facilities. The Samithi has visualised and drawn up a tentative ground plan for multi-purpose use of the maidan.

In the unavoidable absence of Dr Ramachandra Rao, a popular family physician and honorary president of the Samithi, John B Monteiro, working president and Padmanabha Ullal, secretary released the plan for using the ground for multi-purpose sports and recreation at a media meet at Mangalore Press Club on Saturday May 2.

In a press release issued on the occasion, Dr Ramachandra said that, in the context of the increasing menaces of diabetes and obesity and sedentary city life, doctors like him recommend long walks as there are no swimming pools and gyms within the physical reach and financial means of common people. Therefore, he said, they walk on the concreted Airport Road, which has no footpath and are exposed to the risk of being run over by the fast airport-bound traffic. He appealed to the concerned authorities to provide a safe walking track on the new ground and offer a setting for a variety of sports and recreation.

Veteran journalist and author, John B Monteiro, anchor of the Bondel Laughter Club, which functions daily on this maidan, said that the laughter club has had to shift from place to place as the open spaces in the area were encroached upon or de-notified in favour of builders. He said that the new ground plan provides for a Laughterdome for a hundred participants to have their sessions even in the monsoons.

Monteiro said the credit for bringing the 10-acre plot to its current status of a coveted property, valued at Rs 200 crores, goes to Padmanabha Ullal, a retired MCC executive and now a social activist.

Speaking at the media meet, Padmanabha Ullal explained how he identified the undeveloped hilly land and had it levelled by persuading land-fillers to extract and carry away thousands of lorry-loads of excavated earth. He also persuaded the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company to deploy its giant heavy earth-levelling machines free so as to bring the ground to usable level. Padmanabha Ullal had also represented to various concerned authorities and has had experience of being tossed around from pillar to post by politicians in power across party lines and officials down from secretaries in charge of the district and DCs. He had identified and secured consent for releasing impressive Central funds subject to making State-level approach for the funds – with no action taken to secure the eligible and offered funds.

Hemacharya, editor–in-chief, Daijiworld Weekly, and president of Daijiworld Residency Association, opposite Bondel Church, said: “Apart from the multi-purpose uses already mentioned, half a dozen schools in the area have no proper playground and this handicaps students, about 5000, from practising and playing for competitive sports. The schools have offered to participate in the protest against exclusive cricket stadium and the next phase of the struggle would be mass tree plantation by students during the coming monsoon.”

Hemacharya further said: “Padmanabha Ullal spoke about being tossed about from pillar to post by netas and babus in power. After this press meet, he would be pulled up for going to the media. Recently there was a case of a handicapped man importing a Rs 10 lac sophisticated wheel chair that can climb stairs. The customs in Bengaluru slapped a duty of Rs 4 lac and stiff storage charges. Finally, an English daily published a front-page story on it. The customs in Bengaluru got in touch with the importer and offered to deliver the wheel chair to his home free of any charges - and it reached him the next day without having to pay a paisa. But, the customs chief asked the handicapped man: ‘Why did you have to go to the media?’ People play games – as in this maidan case.”

Summing up, Monteiro said: “Now that this valuable public asset is being gifted to a non-State entity for a gated cricket stadium, the public should wake up to support the struggle of the Samithi to retain the ground for the use of the local residents. I appeal to the ministers and MLAs from the district to restore the ground for wider use by residents starved of playgrounds, gardens and parks. I also request the media to support our popular cause.”
  

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Comment on this article

  • John B. Monteiro, Bondle Mangalore

    Mon, May 04 2015

    Bondel Maidan: Thanks for the positive response on the above subject.
    George Boorromeo is right that the snaps are misleading as they were taken when the ground was not in use. Otherwise morning walkers use it car and scooter learners use it. The Bondel Laughter Club uses it between 6.30 and 6-50 AM. Sundry cricketers use it through the day. But, most of all dogs use it as it is used as dumping ground for kitchen waste on which the canines feed and breed and also deposit their poop on the ground generously. They also keep away potential users who have dog phobia.
    The Rs200-crore ground has no care-taker. People stake their claim to use the ground by sticking flex boards or computer-generated notices and use stones as boundary markers. But in monsoon , four months, the ground becomes slushy and out of bounds except for dogs. So, the plea for its proper development, including laying of firm walking track on the periphery of the ground.
    As for Pawan’s cryptic message, “ Khas ulai paadre yedde scheme”, I feel that it is insinuating that the Samithi leaders are out to make money. Fortunately all of us have been blessed not to need such money. The ground plan was made by a CAD specialist over many hours of creative work as his contribution to the cause. It is only a starting point to put the tentative plan in the public domain to move forward from thereon.
    Looking at the dedication of Samithi leadership, Mr Titus Noronha of Rahul Advertising, who was helping us with the Press Meet, volunteered, without being requested , to waive not only his professional fees but also to underwrite out-of-pocket expenses such as Press Club hiring charges. I would like to acknowledge his spirit of public service and generosity.

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  • DENZIL FERNANDES,MANGALORE, mangalore

    Sat, May 02 2015

    There is a solution as far as the usage of the ground is concerned by the Bondel residents and others. The 10 acre land valued at about Rs.200 crores should be made into a multi purpose sports facility which should include all games. An expert stadium architect/builder should be contacted for useful advice and suggestions where each and every sport can be practised with no bias whatsoever. The planning of the entire structure is very important. When I say multi purpose, the place should cater to all activities. Even there should be halls (where you can laugh or shout) and indoor playing arenas where there can be meetings, badminton, volleyball, basketball etc. played indoors. The complex should be cleverly built and then if required different days can be allocated for different activities. There is no need to give it to cricket exclusively. They can be given a couple of days in the week if they have a match planned while they can also have nets set up at a convenient area within the complex. These days, especially abroad, there are indoor nets/facilities for various games and sports.
    The most important thing is to make the facility available for each every citizen of Mangaluru and not only for Bondel. Without any doubt, with suitable supporters the stadium can be a delight and an apple for every Mangalorean. Surely, fees for using the facilities have to be levied so that the venue can be maintained in style. Even the schools can benefit from such a far reaching and meaningful project. Don't forget the place will be complete with hostel facilities and a restaurant which again can be an attraction for all around the area. If the cricket body is ready to bear the cost you may given them a couple of days in the week for their use. They have all the money in the world and for a change let them build something for the benefit of the society. Everyone will be happy, healthy and sporting if the venture clicks.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohan moodbidri, mangalore

    Sat, May 02 2015

    My best Senior friend Mr. Padmanabha Ullal, who is sacrficing his life to the development of the said ground since so many years. May God gives him a good health & courage as it enables him to success in his social work.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • vincy , Bangkok

    Sat, May 02 2015

    The authorities,IAS,IPS all officers are busy on making money on concrete projects.
    How they can be benefited of this 10 acre landif it goes for the public?
    Every student of Mangalore and residents has to appeal to the High Court through a PIL so that there could be a open space where people can gather and breath without cement smell.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • William Rodrigues, Milagres, Mangalore

    Sat, May 02 2015

    This is a must to a locality like Bondel. It can cater to the physical needs like exercise, walking, jogging, laughter club and other sports activities for school children. All the best for the residents of locality. May you succeed in your mission. God bless you all. This is a very huge cause for the society in general.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • George A. Borromeo, Angelore, Mangalore

    Sat, May 02 2015

    First of all public should show the authorities that they are utilizing the existing land for day today sporting activities, where as the snaps shows otherwise.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pavan, Mangalore

    Sat, May 02 2015

    KAAS ULAI PAADRE YEDDE SCHEME...

    DisAgree [5] Agree Reply Report Abuse


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